Fiscal Note
The City's Administrative Procedure Memorandum 1-1 requires all City agencies to receive Council approval to accept grants and enter into grant contracts. The proposed resolution authorizes the Madison Police Department (MPD) to accept training grants on an ongoing basis without requiring separate resolutions to accept individual grants. The authority to accept grants without a resolution would extend to the dollar amount approved in the annual budget. Awards in excess of the budget would require a resolution to amend the budget and accept the grants. The 2026 budget includes $50,000 in assumed grants revenues. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Madison Police Department to accept grants for training on an ongoing basis.
Body
WHEREAS the mission of the Madison Police Department states that “We…are committed to providing high quality police services that are accessible to all members of the community. We believe in the dignity of all people and respect individual and constitutional rights in fulfilling this mission;” and,
WHEREAS the Department’s vision is “a safe Madison, built on collaboration and shared responsibility, achieved through compassion and professional policing, that honors the dignity and diversity of every individual; and
WHEREAS the Department strives to provide the training and resources necessary for its sworn and professional staff to be the compassionate professionals that our vision aspires to; and
WHEREAS the Department annually establishes a budget line and maintains accounts for training grants; and
WHEREAS federal and state governments, as well as foundations and private donors, on occasion will make funding to support training available to MPD on short notice, without time to seek Common Council approval for each individual support amount and authorization to sign an agreement before the training is scheduled to take place, and the Department has had to decline such funding when this occurs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that after review and approval by the City Attorney and other review as required by City contract procedures, the Mayor, City Clerk, and/or the Police Chief or their designee when the Chief’s signature is required by the granting entity, are authorized to sign such agreements for grants for training purposes, using this Resolution as the authorization for such signatures.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any grant funds received through the authority granted by this Resolution are appropriated to the Madison Police Department and shall be used for the purposes of the grant, including modifications upon appropriate approvals from the funder.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that any grant funds received through the authority granted by this Resolution shall not exceed the annual budget for training grants set by the Department’s budget.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that any funds not spent in the year received shall be carried forward for future purposes that are consistent with the requirements of the granting entity for the use of the funds.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department will report annually to the Finance Committee in the first quarter any such training grant(s) received the previous year.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that any awarded training grant funds that exceed the Department’s budget line for training are not authorized by this resolution and must be authorized by a separate resolution that authorizes acceptance of the grant, signature on any grant agreement, and includes an appropriate budget amendment to accept and disburse such funds.